All Blacks player ratings: ‘Box-office’ Ardie Savea stars in a ‘dominant pack’ as Rieko Ioane’s shift will please Scott Robertson

Following the All Blacks’ 43-17 victory over France, here is how we rated Scott Robertson’s charges as they clinched the series 2-0.

All Blacks player ratings v France

15 Will Jordan: Of course he scored a try.  Of course, he topped the metres gained and beat the joint-most defenders. Calm at the back and added his playmaking prowess to the cause, too. Quite simply, a world-class talent and showed it. 7

14 Emoni Narawa: One of the quieter backs overall but he was solid in defence and won a turnover. Did enough to earn another shot in the starting XV next week. 6

13 Billy Proctor: A sluggish start, but Proctor really started to strut his stuff as the game went on. He made a few great reads on defence and landed a some hefty hits in doing so. He made some good inroads with the ball in hand. Not perfect, but he is improving and starting to replicate his Super Rugby form in black. 7

12 Jordie Barrett: With the All Blacks playing a quite compressed game, Barrett was always going to play a big role and he did. He was aggressive in contact and did well defensively, holding up the French once over the line. When his brother was sent to the naughty chair, he worked well with Jordan and Roigard to run the attack. 7

11 Rieko Ioane: The speedster grew into the game as it progressed in what ended up being a standout performance after a hit-and-miss shift last week. He killed off a French attack with a great read and intercept, even if he was unable to stay in play. He popped up in tricky spots for the French with the wing role, allowing him some freedom to roam and that worked wonders in the build-up to Vaa’i’s score. He got on the scoresheet, finishing sharply in the corner. Robertson will be pleased that Ioane shone on the wing. 8

10 Beauden Barrett: Can understand his yellow card, though those always feel harsh. Still, Barrett was sharp and effective outside of his sin binning. He marshaled the attack well and put his side in the right areas of the pitch to strangle the French into submission. 7

9 Cam Roigard: Brilliantly grabbed the opening try of the game, which set the tone for yet another standout performance from the scrum-half. His kicks were on point and got great purchase when he went long. He tested the French defence around the fringes and racked up over 50 metres from that. The All Blacks were rather direct and tight for much of the game, and Roigard managed that well, particularly when Barrett was yellow carded. 7

The forwards

8 Christian Lio-Willie: Much like his debut, the Crusaders’ number eight simply did what was required of him, but executed better than he did in Dunedin. He carried well, claimed a turnover and sold the dummy from the maul well. 6

7 Ardie Savea (c): Charged down the blindside and sent Roigard scooting away with a perfectly executed set move for the opening try. He followed that up with one of his own and played a massive role in Vaa’i’s score with a thundering run. He not only built on a strong performance from last week but took it to another level in a timely reminder that he is one of the best players in the world. A box-office shift jam-packed with sheer brutality and dazzling skill. Simply outrageous. 9

6 Tupou Vaa’i: After a somewhat quiet performance in Test I, Vaa’i was sublime today. It was an all-action shift from the lock-cum-flanker who hassled and hurried the French kickers, grabbed a stunning try, defended strongly and was part of a great lineout effort. A powerhouse effort overall and even grabbed a turnover. 8

5 Fabian Holland: Second cap for the second-row and already looks at home in the All Blacks’ pack. In tandem with Tuipulotu and assisted by Vaa’i, New Zealand bossed the lineout on both teams’ throws. He was also excellent in defence and has the soft skills to match. He was part of truly dominant pack. 8

4 Patrick Tuipulotu: His lineout steal in the first half was stunning, a gorgeous one-handed grab. He and Holland bossed that facet of the game, but he also paired that with hulking carries and sharp defence. He hasn’t played since the Blues’ Super Rugby exit but it didn’t show. A mighty performance. 8

3 Fletcher Newell: Played his part in a dominant pack performance as he got the upper hand in the scrums and made his tackles. A disciplined 48 minutes. 6

2 Codie Taylor: The veteran hooker is not letting his performances dip as he charges towards his 100th Test cap. Accurate at the set-pieces, aggressive around the paddock and was rewarded with a try. 8

1 Ethan de Groot: There was questions around his form heading into the international season, but the Highlander was solid yet again even against the mighty prospect of scrummaging against the mammoth Georges-Henri Colombe. Quieter in other facets, but not poor. 6

Replacements: After four tries in the first half, the All Blacks added just two more in the second. Robertson will be frustrated that he didn’t get more from his replacements, which remains a work-on during his tenure but there were bright sparks in the form of Timoci Tavatavanawai and Du’Plessis Kirifi. 5